Two-film camera



Septl1, 1945 D. H. STEWART 2,384,655

TWO-FILM CAMERA Filed Jan. 26, 1944 mel-l 111 1.15 119 116 117115 DONALD H. STEWART J3 INVENTOR By m g1/nb.

5 2 23 ATTORNEYS Psuatsdasept. il', lass UNITED s'r'A'rss 'Pierrlezu'r gOFFICE TWO-mx (im DonaldEltewartBoeheeter.N.!asdgnos-to museum January u, im, seran u. siam is cmu. (el. ss-si) lhis Ainvention relates to photography and more particularly to photographic roll nlm cameras. One object of my invention is to provide a camera of the type in which two rolls of nlm may be loaded, each being drawn past an exposure aperture so that either of the two nlms may be exposed by an objective which is adjustably mounted on the camera body. Another object of my invention is to provide a camera with a moveably mounted objective carried by a moveable part on which the objective may swing between either of two specinc positions. and in addition. to provide a means on the carrier for the objective for automatically masking oi! light from the nlm which is not to be used. A still further object of my invention is to provide a camera carrying two nlms angularly disposed with respect to each other. with any objective which can be rapidly and easily 'swung from a position to expose one of the films to a position to expose the other of the nlms. A still further object of my invention is to provide a camera of the class described with a view nnding system so arranged that two nnder elements cooperate to produce a complete nnder in either oi the two operative positions of the objective. Other objects will appear from the following speeincation, the novel features being particularly pointed out in the claims at the end thereof.

It hasgbeen desirable to provide a camera in 30 which two nlms can be mounted so that one or the other of the nlms could be exposed as desired. This is particularly useful in cases where an operator mayl desire to use either the socalled black-and-white" nlm or "color" nlm. While such cameras have been proposed. they are ordinarily rather bulky and somewhat inconvenient to use. In accordance with my invention, I have endeavored to overcome these difnculties by providing an extremely simple form of adjustable objective which can be rapidly and easily swung from a position in which it will expose one nlm to a position in which it will expose the other nlm, and which will at the aal-me time, automatically mask oi! the unused Coming now to the drawing wherein like reference characters denote likeparts throughout:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a camera constructed in accordance with and embcdyinl a preferred form of my invention;

Pig. 2 is a transverse section taken through the camera shown in Fig. l on a plane passing.

through thecamera objective, the shutter bein! shown in elevation;

lllg.3isaviewsimilartol"lg.2,butwiththe parts shown in a position to expose the opposite nlm from that positioned for exposure in Fig. 2; Y Pig. 4 is a fragmentary detail transverse seca tion illustrating the connection between the swinllnt lens carrier and the camera body. This ngure illustrates the form of the invention shown intheprecedingngures:

HgJisavlewsimilartoFigJbutshowinga l0 modined form of my invention. and:

ll'lg. 6 is a frumentary-detail partially in section, illustrating a portion ofa preferred form of latch mechanism and taken online e-l of Fig. 2. Il My invention, generally. may be said to comprise a camera body in which two roll films are mounted so as to pass by two exposure frames anguiarly positioned with respect to each other. The camera may include a generally cylindrical Ntype of lens mount, an objective being carried by one side of the cylindrical lens mount. and an aperture through which light rays pass to an exposure frame being carried on the opposite side of the cylinder. This cylinder is mounted to u turn through the angle by which the exposure frames are separated so that by releasing a latch. the objective may be positioned for exposing nlm lying in either of the two exposure frames. This operation of moving the objective from one position to the other also moves a nnder element into a position in which it will cooperate with a second nnder element carried by the camera body to indicate the neld of view.

More specincally. my invention may include a camera body designated generally as i. This camera body may include end walls 2, a front wall 8.atopwall4.arearwalll.andabottom wall l. The front and top walls 3 and l include a cut-away portion so that there are a pair of parallel facing walls I and l between which a cylindrical lens carrier l is mounted, this carrier being mountedto turn between the walls 1 and l, and including a tubular extension il having an interior thread Ii to receive the threaded shutter tube I 2. carried by a shutter casing Il.

The shutter i8 may be of any standard type and may include a trigger il for operating the v el positionshowninrig.$or.ofcc1n'se,inareverse i a,ss4,sss

directionsothataillmJl--I oraillm,l\2,may be exposed.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, the cylindrical member I carries an opening formed by the walls II, which is coaxially arranged with the objective II. As indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. the opening formed by the walls II is of a size to permit light rays' from the objective to strike the film, P I or P-2, lying in theexposure frames I'I'snd Il, when the lens is properly positioned for exposing the particular frame. It should be noticed that when the film, F-I, for example, is in position for exposure, as in Fig. 2. the film, F2, is completely masked of! by means of the wall II of the cylindrical member.

The cylindrical member. as above explained. lies between the parallel walls 'I and I. and in the preferred embodiment. these walls are plates which may be attached to the camera body by means of screws 2I. 'I'his facilitates assembling the cylindrical member I since these generally V-shaped walls may be assembled after the cylindrical member I has been placed so that an outwardly extending nange 2i on the ends 22 of the cylindrical member may engage the reces 23 on the camera body and the recess 2l and groove 2l formed by the camera body and the parallel walls 'l and' I. The walls 1 and I not only hold the cylindrical member in place but in addition they form a part of th'e light-tight circular bearing on which the cylindrical member I may turn.

If desired, the parallel walls 1 and I may extend completely across the ends of the cylinder. this modification being shown in Fig. 5. In this figure, the cylindrical member III is mounted on trunnions I II which extend into bearings I I I and there are completing grooves II2 extending around the periphery o! the ends of the cylinder III, which form light-tight connection with corresponding iianges III on the walls II'I and III, only one of which is shown in Fig. 5. In order to hold the cylindrical member III in a set position, the trunnion III is provided with a notch III which may be engaged by a lug I I I carried by the formed plate III extending outwardly through a slot H1 and terminating in a handle III on the outside of the camera.

By depressing this handle, thus moving the plate III against the pressure of a spring III. the cylinder may be released for its swinging movement. At the end of such movement, the lug I II will drop into a. notch I II, thus holding the cylindrical member III in its set position.

In the preferred form of my invention as shown in Fig. 2, the cylindrical member I may be latched by means of the following structure: There is a push button 28 carried by the camera. this push button being carried on the end of a plunger 21 carrying a turned over lug 2l. as shown in Fig. 6. This lug may engage a notch 2I in the ilange 2l of the cylindrical member I. There are two notches 2! which are spaced through an angular distance equal to the angular spacing of the iilms, FI and F2. Therefore, when it is desired to move the cylindrical member I from its Fig. 2 to its Fig. 3 position) the push button 2I is pressed downwardly to release the lug 2I from the notch 29, and it will then run on the periphery of the ilange until the lug 2I may drop into the second notch ZI, at which time the objective will have reached its Fig. 3 position in which the iilm,1"2, may be exposed.

It should be noticed that the camera body I is provided with an internal construction in which there are three body portions contacting with the periphery of the cylinder I. namely the walls II. II and I2. These walls form a light-tight seal between the periphery of the cylinder and the camera body so that light cannot pass from the exposure frame beneath which one nlm is being exposed, to the exposure trame beneath which the opposite nlm may be exposed. While. o! course, the opening in the cylinder formed by the walls IImustswingacrossthswallIl inmoving fromapositiontoexposethefimF-Ltoaposition to expose the film, lli- 2, or vice versa, this candonoharmbecausetheshutter llwillonb pass light when the trigger II is being depressed.

The roll holding construction of the camera body-i maybeofanydesiredtypeinwhichthe films, l'i-i and H, are angularly arranged with respect to each other, preferably through an angle of 90. The arrangement of the iilm spools is not important to the present invention and may be the same as that shown in application. Serial No. 487,228, led May 17, 1943 for roll holding cameras. in the name oi McDonald. Jr. and Einde.

n 1s desirable um the nader system should only be operative for the particular nlm to be exposed. It is obviously undesirable to have a nnder which would produce an image for the lm,F-I.iithefllm,F-2,isthelmtobs exposed. In order to insure that a iinder will be properly positioned, I provide a nder of the type employing two elements II and Il, element II being preferably carried by a bracket I I attached to the shutter II so as to move when the cylindrical member I is moved. As indicated in Fig. 2.

the second finder element in this particular position of the camera parts, may be the eye piece I2 carried by the bracket II, hingedly attached at II to the camera body I and positioned axially of the finder element II when in an operative posi tion, and moveable in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 2, into a position in which it may lie ilat against the wall I of the camera when not in use.

When the cylindrical member I is swung from its Pig. 2 position to its Fig. 3` position, the finder element I2 is folded flat against the wall I, and in this position the second ilnder element may consist of an eye piece II mounted on a bracket II hinged at I1 to the camera body. 'Ihis eye piece is exactly the same as the eye piece I2 except for its location on the camera body, and it may be swung about its hinge I1 into the inoperative position in which it lies against the wall I as indicated in Fig. 2.

It will be noticed that it will be impossible for an operator to forget to adjust the nnder when the position of the cylindrical member I is changed to expose a dlerent nlm. This is because the cylindrical member I swings the iirst finder element Il with it. and since the view finder only registers the proper view when the proper eye piece I2 or II is used, the ilnder will always be suited to the particular nlm being exposed.

The operation of my improved camera is extremely slmplein that one of the films may be exposed with the camera lens or objective II in one position, and any time the operator desires t0 expose the opposite film. it is only necessary to depress the release button 2I and to swing the cylindrical lens carrier I to its opposite position, to place the objective in optical alignment with the opposite hlm. The operator, cf course. must swing up one eye piece I2 or II and swing the opposite eye piece ilat against the camera body to properly position the finder for use, but this operassaess 'ationwillnotbeiorgottenbeoauseunlesstbeeye pieces are properly positioned, the operator will be unable to look at the view to be photographed through the two-piece nnder.

' In the specincation and claims where I have reierred to parallel walls. I mean either the comparatively small, generally V-shape walls 1 or l, which are separate from the remaining Portion of the walls, including the grooves Il or the walls lll and Ill which may be formed in one piece and which extend completely across the ends ci the cylindrical lens` carrier Ill. In both cases thefunctionisthesamein thatthecylindrical member isrotatably mounted between the parallelwalls,beingcarriedbythesewalls,andthis makes it possible ior the objective to be mounted with the required degree o! accuracy with'respect totheexposuretramesi1andil. Unlessthe tolerances are held very close in the relative locations of the two exposure frames and the objectivecarrier, ilrst class results cannot be obtained.

While I have described a preferred embodiment ot my invention. it is obvious that modiilcations can readily be made, and I consider as within the scope of my application. all such modiiications as may come within the scope ot the appended claims.

j What I claim is:

i. In a photographic camera of the type including a camera body. two exposure trames Vcarried by the camera body, one arranged at an angle' to the other, the combination with said exposure frames. oi an objectiveV n cylindrical carrier for the objective supporting the objective on one side of the cylinder and including a window on the opposite side of the cylinder, means for moveably mounting the cylinder on the camera body to turn thereon for positioning the objective so that the lens axis passes through said window and either of the two exposure frames. said cylinder masking the opposite exposure frame from light from the objective.

-2. In a photographic camera of the typeincluding a camera body. two exposure frames carried by the camera body, one arranged at right angles to' the other, the combination with said exposure frames. ot an objective. a hollow cylindrical carrier positioned partially within said body rior' supporting the objective on one side ofthe cylinder and including a window on the opposite side of the cylinder, means iorfmoveably mounting the cylinder within the camera body to turn therein at a right angle ior Dositioning the objective so that the lens axis passes through said window and either of the two exposure frames. said cylinder masking the opposite exposure frame from light from the objective. and a latch for holding the cylinder in either of its two operative positions.

8. In a photographic camera o! the type including a camera body, two exposure frames carried by the camera body. independent nlm strips positioned over said irames for exposure said trames being angularly arranged. the combination with said exposure frames, of an objective, a cylindrical carrier for the objective supporting the objective on one side of the cylinder and including a window on the opposite side of the cylinder. means for moveably mounting the cylinder on the camera body to turn thereon for selectively positioning the objective so that the lens axis passes through said window and either oi the two exposure trames to expose only one of said illms, said cylinder masking the other exposure frame trom light from the objective, andasubstantiailylighttightconnectionbetween the camera, cylinder and exposure frames.

tlnaphotographiccameraoithetypeincluding a camera body. two exposure frames carriedbythecamerabody.onearrangedataright angle to the other, the combination with said exposure frames. of an objective, a hollow cylin v dricai carrier supporting the objective on one side and provided with a window on' the other .me in optical alignment with the objective. 'Y

inder spaced by the angular relationship of the exposure frames. and a moveable detent tor enalain! said notches to hold said cylinder in either ci its two positions.

5. In a photographic camera o! the type including a camera body. two exposure frames positioned 'at substantially right angles to each other, the combination with said exposure frames, of inner camera walls extending at right anglesy to the exposure frames. a cylinder mounted between said walls to turn through substantially right angles on an axis parallel to the planes ci the exposure frames, an objective carried by: said cylinder on one side thereof and a window in an opposite wall of the cylinder. and means forming a light tight joint between the inner camera walls, the cylinder and the exposure ktrain whereby light may pass through said objective to only one oi said exposure frames.

6. In a photographic camera oi the type in-l cluding a camera body, two exposure trames positioned at substantially right angles to each other. the combination with said exposure trames, o! inner camera walls extending at right angles to the exposure frames. a cylinder mounted between said walls to turn through substantially right angles on an axis parallel to the planes of the exposure trames, an objective carried by said cylinder on one side thereof and a window in an opposite wall of the cylinder, means forming a light tight joint between the inner camera walls. the cylinder and the exposure frame, whereby light may pass through said objective to only one of said exposure frames. spool chambers on each end of the camera body between the pair of' spaced inner camera walls and end walls of the camera spaced from the inner walls a distance to enclose two spool chambers positioned at right angles to each other.

7. In a photographic camera of the type including a camera body, two exposure frames carried by the camera body. one arranged at an angle to the other, the combination with said exposure frames, of. an objective, a cylindrical carrier for the objective supporting the objective on one side of the cylinder and including a window on the opposite side oi the cylinder, means for moveably mounting the cylinder on the camera body comprising a pair of spaced walls on the camera body at the ends of the cylinder and trunnions between the spaced walls and cylinder on which the latter may turn with respect to the walls to expose nlm carried in the exposure frames.

8. In a photographic camera of the type including a camera body, two exposure frames carried by the camera body, one arranged at an trunnions supporting the cylinder on the spaced walls, and means i'or preventing licht from entering between the spaced walls, cylinder and exposure trames.

9. In a photographic camera of the type including a camera body, two exposure framesl carried by the camera body, one arranged at an angle to the other. the combination with said exposure frames. of an objective, a cylindrical carrier for the objective supporting the objective on one side of the cylinder and including a window on the opposite side of the cylinder, said camera body including inner spaced walls parallel to the axis oi the objective for turnably supporting the cylinder, said camera body also including top and side walls reduced in width and terminating in said inner spaced walls and adjacent said cylinder and means forming a light tight connection therebetween.

1.0. In a photographic camera, the combination with a camera body, of two sets of nlm spool supporting mechanisms, a pair of exposure frames mounted in diii'erent planes, a pair of trunnions having a common axis parallel with the planes of the pair oi exposure frames and equidistant from lines drawn longitudinally through the center thereof, a cylindrical lens carrier having a. window opposite an objective carried thereby, means for supporting the cylinder from said camera body on said trunnions whereby said lens may be swung selectively thereon to a position. in axial alignment with either of the two exposure frames.

1i. In a photographic camera, the combinaton with a camera body. of two sets of nlm spool supporting mechanisms at right angles, a pair of exposure frames mounted in diil'erent planes, a pair of trunnions having a common axis parallel with the planes o! the pair of exposure frames and equidistant from lines drawn longitudinally through the center thereof, a cylindrical lens carrier partially positioned within said body and having a window opposite an objective carried thereby, means for supporting the cylinder from said camera body on said tnmnions whereby said carried by the camera body. a pair of moveable with the cylinder and by a spacing corresponding to the angular ing d the exposuretrames whereby said mayengageanotchtolatchsaidcylinderagaill turning.

l2. In a photosnpbic camera o! the type including a camera body. carriedbythecamerabodnonearrangedatan angle to the other, the combination with said exposure frames. of an objective, a cylindrical carrier for the objective supporting the objective on one side o! the cylinder and including a win dow on the opposite side of the cylinder. means for moveably mounting the cylinder on the camera body to turn thereon for positioning tbe objective so that the lens axis passes through saidwindowandeitheroithetwoexposure frames, seid cylinder masking the opposite exposure frame from iight from the objective. a view finder including one element carried by the cylinder, and two iinder elements carried by thecamerabodypositionedsothatoneoithetwo nnder elements may be axially aligned with the view nder element carried by the cylinder to indicate the held o! view.

13. In a photographic camera of the type including a camera body, two exposure frames carried by the camera body. one arranged at an angle to the other. the combination with said exposure frames, o! an objective, a cylindrical carrier for the objective supporting the objective on one side oi' the cylinder and including a window on the opposite side o! the cylinder. means tor moveably mounting the cylinder on the camera body to turn thereon for positioning the objective so that the lens axis passes through said window and either of lthe two exposure trames, said cylinder masking the opposite exposure frame from light from the objective, a view tinder element iixedly carried by the cylinder, a pair o! eye pieces moveably attached to the camera body and angularly spaced thereonv in accordance with the angular spacing i! the exposure frames, and moveable to and from positions in which they may cooperate with the ilxedly mounted finder element to indicate the field o! view.

DONALD H. STEWART. 

